The inquiry into alleged political interference and corruption within the SAPS began on a tense note, marked by procedural confusion before KZN Commissioner General Mkhwanazi could take the stand.
The first Member of Parliament to speak, EFF leader Julius Malema, raised concerns about Mkhwanazi’s submission being referred to as a “supplementary statement” when no original statement had been presented to Parliament.
Malema accused the committee’s legal team of undermining Parliament’s authority and blurring the lines between its work and that of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where Mkhwanazi had previously testified.
“You can’t call the first statement to Parliament a supplementary statement. It’s embarrassing and makes it seem like we don’t know what we are doing,” Malema said.
Several MPs supported Malema’s position, insisting that the Ad Hoc Committee is not subordinate to the Madlanga Commission and must receive an original, sworn statement addressed directly to Parliament. Some called for an adjournment to allow the legal team to make correction.
The Committee Chairperson acknowledged the confusion, noting that while the intention was to include Mkhwanazi’s earlier evidence for context, Parliament’s record must reflect an original submission.
The committee has since gone into a break to determine whether the necessary corrections to Mkhwanazi’s statement have been made before proceedings resume.